What Past?

Ben seemed to be the only one who was not following the conversation, "What are you talking about? What's going on?" Ben asked Bella with a confused frown, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to him. 

"But did you just say he is Olivia's cousin? Why, then, did they pretend not to know each other? How come Dan doesn't know they're cousins?" Bella asked Nicole, who was eyeing her as she considered whether or not she wanted to talk to Bella. Nicole's curiosity to know the details of all that happened won over her anger, so she sat up. 

"Like I said, Drake rarely makes public appearances. That's why I was surprised he actually met with Joan. He doesn't grant interviews, and he doesn't like his pictures being taken at events. So it's possible Dan would have no reason to have even met him until yesterday," Nicole explained with a shrug.